April 10, 2008
Albuquerque Journal
UNM's Recruiting Tenacity Impresses Texas Standout
By Ken Sickenger
Journal Staff WriterThe University of New Mexico women's basketball team is looking to add height for 2008-09.
It could come from Texas.
The Lobos are recruiting Shauntal Nobles, a 6-foot-3 post who just finished her junior season at Justin Northwest High School in the Fort Worth area. Justin Northwest coach Alan Thorpe confirmed Wednesday that UNM is among the top schools on Nobles' list.
"There are a lot of people very interested in her," Thorpe said. "SMU and Texas Tech have called quite a bit, but nobody calls more than New Mexico. (Assistant coach Dave Shoemate) and coach (Don) Flanagan have done a great job. They've made (UNM) very appealing."
Nobles' size and statistics make her appealing as well. She averaged 19.5 points and 15.5 rebounds per game for the Lady Texans this season. Nobles was an all-region selection and District 5-5A offensive player of the year.
Baylor and Mountain West Conference schools TCU and Utah also are recruiting Nobles, Thorpe said. But he added Nobles is "very interested" in New Mexico and plans to make an official campus visit.
According to Thorpe, Nobles does most of her work inside but has an effective perimeter shot. She was one of just two returning starters for Justin Northwest (18-14) this season, amassing big numbers despite being the focus of opposing defenses.
"She's not a real thick kid," Thorpe said, "but she's already in the weight room getting stronger. She's going to be a real nice addition for somebody, no question."
New Mexico has one scholarship open for next season and will have two more when Angela Hartill and Amanda Adamson complete their senior seasons next March. Jourdan Erskine, a 6-foot guard from Michigan's Saginaw Heritage High School, already has committed to join the Lobos in 2008-09.
NCAA rules prohibit collegiate coaches from commenting on unsigned recruits.
SANCHEZ INTERVIEWED: UNM associate coach Yvonne Sanchez confirmed Wednesday that UNLV contacted her about its head coaching position. She was among numerous candidates given "preliminary" interviews during the Women's Final Four in Tampa, Fla.
"They called me on Monday, so I went ahead and applied online," Sanchez said. "I felt honored they called me. It's an intriguing job."
UNLV dismissed Regina Miller within days of her team's loss to Colorado State in the MWC tournament play-in game. Sanchez said UNLV officials "literally talked to 18 or 20 people" about the position during the Final Four and planned to call top candidates for on-campus interviews.
"I don't consider myself a serious candidate because they haven't called me back," said Sanchez, who recently finished her eighth season as Flanagan's top assistant.
"I have a great job, it's not like I'm looking to get out," she added. "But when a school like UNLV calls, it's worth looking into."
WNBA DRAFT: Dionne Marsh, UNM's career scoring leader, was not among the 43 players chosen in Wednesday's WNBA draft. However, Marsh isn't giving up on her dream of playing professionally.
Marsh attended a WNBA workout camp last week in Tampa and was hoping her name would be called.
"It was a little disappointing," she said. "You go (to the camp) and hope something positive will happen. But everything happens for a reason."
Marsh has signed with an agent and said she hopes to sign a WNBA free-agent contract in the next few days.
"I still have options," she said.
While Marsh didn't get the call she was hoping for, several players who competed against her this season did. Utah point guard Leilani Mitchell was a second-round pick (25th overall) of defending WNBA champ Phoenix. She was the lone Mountain West Conference player drafted.
Stanford's Candice Wiggins (first round, third overall to Minnesota), West Virginia's Olayinka Sanni (second round to Detroit), and UTEP teammates Natasha Lacy (second round to Detroit) and Izabela Piekarska (third round to Sacramento) also played against New Mexico.
As expected, Tennessee's Candace Parker, the Associated Press National Player of the Year, was selected No. 1 in the draft by Los Angeles. LSU's Sylvia Fowles (Chicago) was the second pick.